Mindset

Chapter One

Mindset -

Bad

news

Early morning

Dr. Michael Kregg ran his fingers through his sleep-tousled black hair and checked the mirror for silver intrusion. Bleary-eyed from the added hours of his new work regimen at the hospital on Thirasia, he bent to slosh cold water on his unshaven face and reached for a fresh towel. He opened his eyes in disbelief .

Helen? What the hell? He’d expected to see his reflection in the mirror, not the unhappy face of his middle-aged supervisor. "What happened to our agreement? You know, the one where you tell me before repositioning me thousands of

miles

away

."

She rolled her eyes upwards. He just arrived, she said to the nameless person at the other end of her cell phone. She punched off with her thumb and without a greeting, said, "Sit. We have bigger problems

than

that

."

Still bent over as if he were at the sink in his apartment at Cohort Headquarters on Thirasia, rather than at MD Andersen Hospital, in Houston, Michael resisted the desire to grouse and straightened his six- foot -something frame. "What’s

going

on

?"

Helen tucked a loose strand of graying hair into her tight bun and cleared her throat, but said nothing aloud.

She tapped her desk with a brass letter opener. She took in a deep breath and wrung her hands as though washing them, making her gold bracelet clatter against the desk.

Michael extended his hand and stilled her movement.

he said, turning up his palm.

She bit her lip and put a fist to her mouth. Helen never dissembled, yet her voice, for all that it was in his head trembled.

your

time

.>

need

you

.>

The psychiatrist in him took over and Michael enclosed her shaking hands in his. He’d never seen her in such a dither. Dr. Helen Deal, chairman of Human Resource Services at the large hospital, was a no-nonsense woman who met surprises and bad situations alike with resilience and strength.

She jerked her head toward the upper floors of the hospital. She held his hand tightly, in essence, preventing him from making a jump. Her face crumbled and she blinked back tears before ducking

her

head

.

That was alarming in itself. Helen Deal didn’t cry. Following her orders, he remotely viewed the private patient room on his psych ward. He couldn’t believe what

he

saw

.

Deep under the island of Thirasia, in the Greek Cyclades, Chloe sat alone by the SPA’s waterfall cafe waiting for Michael. The Cohort had been forced underground for secrecy last year when a paramilitary group and covert government agency threatened their lives and their research. Although it wasn’t like Michael to be late, what concerned her most was the fact that although she’d vized everywhere, she couldn’t see him. She rested her head on her bandaged hand and stirred her coffee with the other.

Her thoughts had sunk to the direst possibilities and Kelly’s voice came as a welcome distraction. The familiar whirl of her friend’s wheels echoed from the entrance of the nearby service tunnel the SPA residents used for an exercise trail.

A pair of joggers emerged then split when Kelly hooted and hollered behind them. She nears the finish line and the crowd goes wild. She’s going for the title. And . . . and . . . it’s in the bag. Drifting her wheelchair through the last turn of her imagined race, she shot for Chloe’s table and with a whoop, raised her arms high in triumph breaking the imaginary finish line tape. "And the

winner

is

—

"

For heaven sakes, Kelly, that couple thinks you lost your marbles. Chloe laughed and slapped the table with her good hand, cheering the victory and reaching for a high five as her friend coasted to

a

stop

.

That the perception of speed was more imagined than reality didn’t bother either of them. Kelly’s recovery from organ failure to a wheelchair was nothing short of astonishing. Using chemical protein cocktails, Chloe had reprogrammed her friends DNA’s epigenomic settings in a desperate effort to save her life. "You’re looking good for

a

gimp

."

Gimp, yourself, girlfriend. You should’ve come with me. I’d have whipped your butt for sure today.

In spite of her intensive research and a trial run on a hopelessly comatose patient, Chloe had been so afraid she would kill her best friend. That the resetting of epigenomic settings had worked was a miracle. Kelly not only survived, but here she was racing in a wheelchair. The rest of the time, she used arm cuff crutches.

Chloe ran her hand across her chin. She had nightmares at what might have happened. After Kelly’s organs had finally regained normal functioning, she developed a protein cocktail for herself to regrow the spinal cord nerves cut in the same cycling accident as Kelley’s. Although the procedure was not a full cure, it was a start and she continued with her research. Her two-year progress from a wheelchair to cuffs paralleled Kelly’s and they raced each other on stationary bikes and wheelchairs with a joyful return to the competition they loved. For the time being, it was enough.

Leaning on the arms of the wheelchair, Kelly’s flushed face beamed with good health. She never had a problem chatting for both of them and she nattered on until she realized there was no comeback of Chloe’s usual

trash

talk

.

You’re worried about Michael.

Well, yeah. I can’t find him anywhere. She didn’t even try being cheerful.

"Jeez, the boy probably just wanted some privacy. Sometimes I think you two are joined at

the

hip

."

"I hope you’re right, but . . . I don’t know . . . something feels . . . wrong. Something’s happened. I

sense

it

."

Dismissing her friend’s concern with a wave of her hand, Kelly leaned closer to Chloe’s wrapped hand. Why do you keep that thing wrapped up? Give it some air. Let it breathe.

"I keep

bumping

it

."

Let me see it again.

Again, Kelly? Really? It’s not a weed. Give it a chance.

But it’s so amazing. She wiggled in her chair, glancing at passing runners. Come on, one more peep and I’m done for the day. I promise.

For a day? That’s your best offer?

Kelly pulled a Hershey bar from her bag and slid it across the table. Okay then, how about a bribe? She smiled like it was Christmas, never taking her eyes off the white protective wrap her friend peeled from her

left

hand

.

Chloe stopped her unraveling. "For Pete’s sake, Kelly, you’ve eaten most

of

it

."

Still looking at the wrap, Kelly said, Your finger?

Chloe laughed. She couldn’t help it. No girl, your peace offering. Pulling the last of the gauze off her hand, she exposed a half-sized pinky. It was the latest of her research experiments. She’d lost her original finger in a vicious attack the previous year and since she’d wanted to try physical regeneration on her spinal cord, she figured her pinkie could be a good

first

step

.

Kelly bounced in her chair. It’s bigger. I knew it. It’s growing.

No instant finger, but yes, each day it grows a little. Chloe had tweaked and fidgeted her internal vizing to a point she could irritate cells back to the stem cell stage in her hand. Then, using her mind, she’d nudged nearby cells to influence the growth of the cells needed for a new finger. If, and she knew it was a big if, it was successful, she would try using the same method to fix her spine. The bottom line was would she be able to walk again?

She recalled how miffed she’d been at Michael’s reaction. She’d wanted to surprise him, but instead, he’d been freaked out. He knew she’d looked inside Kelly’s body to cure her, but said it could be dangerous to look inside her own. Hah. Her theory on his anger was he wanted to be there in case anything went wrong. Although how it could, she couldn’t figure. In her mind, anything wrong meant, it

didn’t

work

.

Humans regenerated skin all the time and could do the same with their livers if they weren’t too far gone. Jeez, babies have been known to regenerate digits in the womb and just after birth. It was a documented fact. Why couldn’t she reset her cells to a pre-birth setting and do the same thing? She thought it could work. It did work. He worried too much

about

her

.

"Hello-o-o, Chloe. Are you there? Does

it

work

?"

She came back to the now and with great ceremony, she used the small digit to reach for the remains of the piece of chocolate and pinch it against her palm. How’s this? She waved her success in the air and popped the remaining candy bar into her mouth. Satisfied?

"That’s so amazing! Can you feel anything

with

it

?"

Yup. Chloe stuck the undersized pinky into her mouth and licked off the smear of chocolate. It’s growing about two centimeters a week. She began rewrapping her hand then froze. Something’s happening.

A blaring siren sounded and Chloe’s reaction was universal. Her heart raced and her stomach clenched. What’s that about? she shouted above the alarm. "This place is a fortress. No one can

get

in

."

In actuality, it was a medical complex that also served as Cohort headquarters and home for the Cohort, a group of people who had evolved into a new species of human, Homo Evolutis. Even though security was the purpose of the design, the architects had brought in the feel of the outdoors in their deep underground facility.

The facsimile of natural lighting allowed for the growth of trees and plants in abundance in the common areas. The feeling of open space permeated the SPA. From where they sat at the coffee shop, they could view several floors above them and below, all visibly united by the multi-story waterfall. This was a safe haven. Nothing was supposed to go

wrong

here

.

Kelly craned her neck in every direction. I don’t see anything. I don’t sense anything, either.

The flat voice of a security announcement filled their heads.

"

What

the

—

"

Hold on, Kelly, someone’s coming. Chloe’s shoulders slumped. Not Michael.

A soft pop of displaced air sounded several yards away and Sophia appeared in her camo scrubs and running sneaks. She projected an aura of action befitting her role as one of the top field agents in

security

ops

.

Hola, chicas. Sophia beamed. "Haven’t seen you

in

ages

."

Kelly twisted in her chair. "Hey, Sophia. Looking fit. Harris got you

working

hard

?"

It’s not work when you love it. She ran both hands through her thick, close-cropped black hair. Did you guys get the lockdown alert?

You’re kidding, right? It was like a bomb blast to our brains. There isn’t a soul in the Cyclades who missed it. What’s going on, Ms. A-team security?

Don’t know. I expect it’s a drill.

That’s casual for something that about scared the heart from my chest. Chloe still had her

hands

up

.

Sophia shrugged off their concern. You two been doing any real racing?

Nah, not yet, Kelly said. We’re still restricted to simulations, wheelchairs, and cuff crutches. When we walk, we look like praying mantises on parade.

Using her mental powers, Sophia slid a chair from the next table

and

sat

.

Show off,

Chloe

said

.

Oh, you like the mind-move? Harris has been dishing out some serious training. She leaned in nose-to-nose with Chloe. "Hey, you okay? You seem out of it. What’s going on? How’s the finger reset-thing

working

out

?"

After the siren went off, she’d never rewrapped her hand and she wiggled the four and a half fingers. Good, but it wish grew faster. It’s a mindset, by the way, not a reset.

Which means . . .

I initiated this regrowth with my mind, not a protein cocktail like my cure for Kelly. To explain more would take too much time and she was more concerned with Michael being lost then Sophia’s understanding. I do it with my mind. She left it at that. Why the field scrubs? Is that part of your training today?

Ask the real question, Kelly said, nudging her racing

buddy’s

arm

.

Sophia shifted her gaze from one to the other. "Ask

me

what

?"

After a pause, Chloe spit out her concerns "Something’s

going

on

—

"

Kelly interrupted. "Michael didn’t show up for their run this morning. We’re afraid something’s happened

to

him

."

Sophia opened her palms. "I

don’t

—

"

Hey. Ever since I woke from my coma, I’ve rarely seen one of these two without the other. Kelly folded her arms and frowned. "It’s wa-a-ay out of character for him not to

be

here

."

Chloe leaned forward in her chair and drilled their friend with a scowl. Something’s happening. I feel it. You’ve been alerted by security, haven’t you, Sophia? Tell us what you know about the lockdown alert?

All I know is I got a call a few minutes before I got here to be ready for a training exercise at 0900. She glanced at her watch. Twenty minutes from now. She spread her hands across the table like a black jack dealer. "Other than that, I know nada. I

swear

it

."

"Well, enough of this crap, I was about to contact security when Kelly

interrupted

me

."

"Yeah, yeah, blame it on me. I’m tough. I can

handle

it

."

Chloe waved her off and sent off her concern.

going

on

?>

Her concern intensified when the voice of a stranger replied.

help

you

?>

Confused by the unexpected voice and the use of her last name, not to mention the tag with a degree not yet warranted, she hesitated. She’d always had a direct line to security. Who was this guy?

Craig

is

?>

Inquiries about what? Not waiting for another uneasy thought to creep in, she reached out for Michael yet again, but got nothing.

Kelly patted her on the back. "Well, at least now you know

he’s

okay

."

Not really and I still don’t know why I can’t sense him anywhere. Systematically, she tore her paper napkin into shreds and glared again at Sophia. "You are holding out on us? What do

you

know

?"

I’ve heard some rumors, that’s all. She fidgeted in her chair. There’s some threat to our recruiting teams and Harris is probably running extra security drills to prepare. That would explain why you couldn’t get through to Michael. He and his team at MD Andersen are probably on lockdown, too. They could be running a high alert drill.

"He’s in Houston? You’ve known all along where he was? Why didn’t you

say

so

?"

I thought you meant where in the hospital. Remember when he and some of the other medical staff had to work in the FEMA safe room in the sub-basement?

"That was after that first EMP attack from Darkwood a

while

back

."

Yeah, I remember. I was your schizoid patient and you were in your first summer as an intern working for Helen. Your mom scared the crap out of me in the park the day we first encountered Adrianne dealing with my ex, Hector and his boys. Then that freaking paramilitary group that kidnapped us and then tried to kill us. Sophia raised her palms. "I think something like that is going on today, but even if I knew anything, I couldn’t say anything. I’d lose my security job. You guys

know

that

."

Chloe folded her arms on the table and leaned closer. Do we? She wasn’t going for this secret-keeping business. Not when it involved Michael.

With a united front, Kelly copied Chloe’s pose and glared

as

well

.

Sophia pulled back from the heat of their anger. "Let’s keep it social, okay? I haven’t seen my two best friends for a long-ass time. I only have a few minutes, so let’s just

catch

up

."

Yeah, right, that would be real cozy. Chloe schooled her voice to hide her alarm. I’m getting royally ticked off. Is there anything you can tell us about this thing?

Sophia pursed her lips and spoke directly to their minds.

secrets

here

.>

Chloe locked a hand on Sophia’s wrist and reached for Kelly’s arm with the other.

* * *

In an instant, their surroundings changed from the SPA to a moonlit beach.

What the hell? Sophia gaped at the sky. There are two freaking moons. Where the hell are we and how in the hell did we break out of the SPA’s defensive perimeter?

"You said you couldn’t share secrets back at the SPA, so I took you to this private beach on a private planet for a

private

chat

."

The planet was new to her, too, and Kelly looked over her shoulder as though one of the silver moons might fall on

her

head

.

Sophia’s hands curled into fists. "Dammit, woman, you need permission before your break our rules. What kind of disruption to our shields did you make taking from the SPA and where do you get off jumping to another planet? How far away

are

we

?"

Chloe glared at her. I don’t know how far or even where this place is, but now that your mind has made the journey, you can come here anytime you need to get away. All I’m saying is when you feel you can trust us, we can meet here and catch up like real friends. She stuck her chin out. As in keeping no secrets.

Sophia studied the sky before answering. Honestly? I don’t know what’s going on. I expect I’ll find out at my meeting. She looked at both of them and lowered her voice. I’ll fill you in. I promise.

Chloe reached out and, with more firmness than required, grabbed an arm of each and returned to the SPA’s

coffee

shop

.

* * *

Ah, Sophia said, rubbing her wrist. I get it, you’re angry, but you’ll have to trust me on this one, girl. She backed away and vanished.

Chloe? Kelly frowned. Why’d you piss her off like that? She’s a friend.

I thought so too, but real friends don’t hide information. I wanted her to remember that. I gave her a way to work with it. She slapped the table with her palm. Something’s wrong, I feel it and I don’t like it. Furthermore, Sophia knows something and isn’t talking. She shook a finger at Kelly. "I’m going back to two moon bay to get it together before I do

anything

else

."

Hey, what about the lockdown?

Screw the lockdown.

Standing at the shoreline, where an occasional wave covered her ankles in cold water, Chloe found exquisite pleasure in the sensation she’d been deprived of during her years of paralysis. The fact that her crutches kept sinking into the sand was a minor inconvenience. She’d returned to the planet with two moons hoping to arrange a rendezvous with her Aunt Elizabeth, who was sure to know what was happening, but that hadn’t worked out. She was as lost to communication as Michael. Maybe the lockdown drill was real. Maybe it wasn’t a drill.

Usually, the lyrical sounds of birds nesting in the bushes beyond the beach calmed her, but not today. She had trouble concentrating. Michael filled her thoughts and her imagination ran wild with terrible things—accidents, kidnappings,

psychopaths, homicidal maniacs, murder . . .

She freaked herself out and when she caught a movement off to her left. A chill matching the water at her feet raced up her spine. Lifting the hair on the back of her neck, it sent her heart into Mach five overdrive. A dark shape ran at her and she raised her arms for protection.

Chloe. Michael slowed to a stop several yards away. I scared you. I’m sorry.

"Michael, where have

you

been

?"

He took long strides and wrapped his strong arms around her. She melted against him, raining kisses over his face

and

neck

.

You’re safe. She drank in the familiar sight of him, his tall strong body, his warm brown eyes, and his wrinkled forehead. It carried a worried look, a tired look. "Are you okay? Why couldn’t I

find

you

?"

"Helen repositioned me to MD Andersen and then put me in a shielded Faraday facility that Harris had installed in the sub-basement. Since it prevents mental probes, it’s great for spy protection. The problem is, you couldn’t viz in and I couldn’t

reach

out

."

She hugged him again then pushed away and tilted her head. How did you find this place?

He pulled her close and nuzzled her neck then sobered visibly. His eyes took on a darker shade and lines she’d never seen before framed his mouth. "Elizabeth brought me here a moment ago. She was at MD Andersen, too, and seemed to know you’d be here. She dropped me

and

left

."

He took both of her hands in his warm ones, leaving her crutches to dangle from her wrists inches above the low rush of surf. I’d have contacted you sooner if I could have. It’s bad, Chloe, very bad. The lockdown is real. He paused taking a deep breath. We have no idea how or why, but several cohorts and a cohort candidate are dead. We believe they were murdered.

Chapter Two

Mindset 2 ~ Revelations

Michael had not given her the worst of the news and he wished there was some way to prepare her. Her emotions could be complicated. Within her twenty-three-year-old body was the mind of a world-class researcher, yet, having spent more than two years as a young adult, recovering from one painful surgery after another following a near fatal cycling accident, she’d been robbed of the normal maturation that occurs during that time. As a result, her reactions were hard to predict and often immature. Sometimes, she was frail emotionally and other times, she was surprisingly tough and resilient. His additional news would be devastating and he wished he could

protect

her

.

Who died, Michael? Tell me. Chloe grabbed the lapels of his lab jacket and stared at him through tears. "

Tell

me

."

He didn’t want to blurt out the answer. The nurse was someone she knew and liked. That would make the horror a reality and he wanted to prepare her for it. "We need to talk. Let’s move to that outcrop of rocks down the beach where we

can

sit

."

They repositioned to the rocky ridge and dangled their feet over the edge looking out at the ocean. The light of two full moons etched long silver lines on the swells of incoming waves that followed one other ashore in a non-ending parade.

Chloe reached out to smooth the worry lines on Michael’s face. His mouth stretched in a thin tight line, so unlike the relaxed amused smile usually there. The knot in his jaw attested to clenched teeth. God, she was glad he was safe. She could see he was struggling for words and, rubbing his forearm in silence, she waited until he was ready

to

talk

.

When he reached an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, she placed her opposite hand on his chest. Together, they watched the march of waves crashing against the rocks below. Their luminous spray rose high in the air and fell in time to meet the next

surging

curl

.

After a deep breath, Michael marshaled his voice into a flat unemotional tone. I got up early this morning to complete a brief counseling report on a new cohort so I wouldn’t miss our morning run. Before I could shave, Helen repositioned me to her office in Houston. He took another breath. "After warning me to stay put and not, under any circumstance physically relocate to the room, she told me to virtually viz,

room

722

."

Chloe lifted her head. "Sophia’s old room in the

psych

wing